President in his first address to the Saeima highlights the previously mentioned priorities as the most important tasks

The President of the Republic, Edgars Rinkēvičs, in his first address to the new Saeima on Tuesday highlighted the previously mentioned priorities as the most important tasks - internal and external security, the economy, and demographics, also mentioning issues of democracy and human rights.

The President noted that autumn and the upcoming winter will be quite a challenging time. He drew attention to the tense international situation, Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and military actions in the Middle East, accompanied by rising energy resource prices and a deterioration of the overall economic situation.

In the field of security, Rinkēvičs reminded that the National Defense Financing Law stipulates that from next year and in the following years, at least 5% of the projected gross domestic product should be allocated for defense. He assessed that this is a fundamental necessity, not a whim.
The President emphasized the increase in the volume and scale of Russia's security-directed activities in Europe. He expressed support for diplomatic efforts to achieve peace in Europe, stressing that Latvia must be prepared for any developments.

Rinkēvičs called for investment in the capabilities of the National Armed Forces, to ensure host nation support for allied forces, to fulfill NATO commitments, and to continue supporting Ukraine. He emphasized that these tasks must not remain at the level of political intentions or wishes.